Spinning-top.



top, the plug being shown in elevation.

U ITED STATES V PATENT CFFICE.

.lUSTUS WARNER LOBBQOF DES MOINES, IOWA.

SPINNING-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part bf Letters Patent No. 660,161, dated October23, 1906.

' A plicati filed December21,1899. SerialNo. 741,163. mtmoatl T0 at whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, J USTUS WARNER LOBB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Des Moines, in the county of Folk and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Spinning-Top, of which thefollowing is aspecification. 1

Thisinvention relates to spinning-tops, and more particularly to thatclass which are spun by windinga cord about them and then throwing themviolently, the object of the invention being to provide a structurewhich is particularly adapted for plugging. By the term plugging ismeant that game in which the top is thrown at another top with theintent of striking it and possibly splitting it. This game has atendency to split the top that is being spun at the objective top,due tothe driv ing of the plug up into the body of the top. The presentinvention produces a structure in which the plug is held firmly in placeand in which the body is strengthened by the form and arrangement of theplug.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in whichsimilar numerals of reference designate like and corresponding parts inboth views, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a top constructed inaccordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinalsection of the body of the Referring now to the drawings, the topcomprises a body portion 5, having the usual exterior shape and providedwith the usual cord-notches upon the lower portion of its surface.

Centrally and longitudinally of the body portion 5 is formed a passage7, the lower portion of which is tapered downwardly to a slight extent,as shown at 8, while the upper portion for substantially half the lengthof the passage has a constant diameter, upon portion, the plug belowthis groove being formed cylindrical, as shown at 12, and terminating ina cone 13, forming the plug proper. The upper portion of the plug iscylindrical and is screw-threaded, as shown at 14, these threadsengaging the threads 9 and acting to hold the plug against longitudinaldisplacement. The upper end of the plug is provided with a head 14,which rests against the head of the top-body and acts to furtherstrengthen the top. This head 14: has a peripheral groove 15, whichreceives the spinning-cord in the usual manner.

It will be seen that with the above construction the taper of the plugis such as to permit the plug to be snugly fitted into the body portionof the top and at the same time to prevent splitting of the bodyportion, due to the wedging of the plug into the passage. Moreover, theplug increases the weight of the top and makes the structure rigid tofacilitate plugging.

What is claimed is 1. A top comprising a body portion having an axialpassage therethrough, threads in the passage, and a plug passed entirelythrough the passage and having threads engaged with the threads in thepassage, said plug having a head engaging the upper end of the body andsaid plug projecting at its opposite end from the lower end of the body,whereby the material of the central portion of the upper end of the topwill be protected to prevent splitting when struck by another top.

2. A top comprising a body portion having a passage therethrough, aportion of which is tapered downwardly and the remaining portion ofwhich is threaded, and a plug having a tapered portion and a threadedportion adapted 'to engage the corresponding portions of the body, saidplug having a head to lie against the head of the body.

3. A top comprisinga body portion having a passage therethrough, theupper portion of which is threaded and the lower portion unthreaded, anda plug lying in the passage and extending therefrom, said plug having athreaded portion and an unth'readed portion engaging the correspondingportions of the passage.

4. A plug comprising a body portion having a passage therethrough, thelower portion of which passage is tapered downwardly and the upperportion of which passage is provided with threads, and a plug lying inthe passage and extending therefrom, said plug having a tapered portionfitting the tapered portion of the passage and having threads engagingthe threads of the passage.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

J USTUS WARNER LOBB.

Witnesses:

GRACE H. BALL'AN'I'YNE, B. F. LONGLEY.

